Helping shelter the community
In a case of art meets philanthropy, Duc Tran, BFA (Design) 11, will compete in Sukkahville 2013, a community-minded architecture competition held in Toronto.
Tran, who studied in the design program of Concordia's Faculty of Fine Arts, and his teammate Katrina Novak, a graduate of Carleton University, were one of six teams shortlisted for the finals. They were selected out of more than 80 submissions from architects and artists from around the world.
The challenge was to design a sukkah: a small, temporary shelter built for the week-long Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. The structure, traditionally made of natural materials, is meant to symbolize the frailty and impermanence of life.
The competition is organized by the Kehilla Residential Programme, a Toronto-based group that works to provide affordable housing for the city's Jewish community.
Now in its third year, the goal of the competition is to raise money and awareness for community members with low incomes just barely able to make rent.
Tran and Novak's design, titled "Ombres Lumineuses," is composed of equilateral triangles and explores "the interplay between shadow and light" by allowing sunshine to filter through the wooden shelter.
Concordia alumnus Duc Tran and his teammate Katrina Novak designed "Ombres Lumineuses" for the Sukkahville 2013 architecture competition. | Courtesy: Sukkahville 2013
The finalist teams were each awarded a stipend of $3,600 to bring their winning designs to life.
The six completed sukkahs will be on display for the public to walk through at a free pop-up exhibition at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto from September 22 to 24.
On the last day, a panel of jurors will announce two grand prize winners, as well as a People's Choice award for the most popular sukkah.
Funding for the event is provided by corporate sponsors and private donors, and all money raised goes to Kehilla's rental assistance program.